Today, Stephen McIntyre hung himself with a rope, because the Police raided The Auckland Greencross, and then had him up in the courts for opening NZ’s first non-profit charitable trust authorized by the NZ government to help patients to obtain cannabis for medicine. Cannabis a natural plant, used as medicine in Israel for 19 years, U.S.A for 16 years and mentioned in every pharmacological text produced in the past 2,000 years and scientifically proven for many treatments.

New Zealand has the highest arrest and incarceration rate of cannabis users in the world. Yet many of those arrested are young people possessing small amounts for personal use. Is personal use of cannabis really a ‘crime’? And wouldn’t Police time be better spent focusing on more serious matters?

Perhaps New Zealand would have a lower suicide rate if cannabis was legalised / de-criminalised? I think so.

“New Zealand has lost a peaceful and gentle man who advocated quietly for the sort of reforms that have halved the number of drug users in Portugal over the last decade,” said Dr McGrath, who works at two alcohol and drug clinics in the lower North Island.

Stephen Lindsay McINTYRE Obituary Guest Book Currently, the Guest Book for Stephen Lindsay McINTYRE is available for viewing, but not accepting entries until Wednesday, 25 July 2012. View McINTYRE, Stephen Lindsay. On 22 July, 2012 suddenly at home; in his 48th year. Dearly loved husband of Reiko, loved father of Terumi and Takumi, loved son of Lillias and William McIntyre, brother of Ken, Stuart, Bruce, and Lorraine, uncle to his many nieces and nephews. A Service will be held at 85 Grafton Road, Grafton, Auckland on Friday 27 July at 1.30pm. Battersby Funeral Services Ltd Ph 09-828-5113 Published in The New Zealand Herald on July 24, 2012

Smokescreen raises the subject of drug policies in effect worldwide, focusing on their social and political implications in countries such as Brazil, England, Spain, Holland, Switzerland, Argentina and the US. Its premise is a rethink of countries’ prohibitionist drug policies. The confronting documentary discusses some of the consequences of such drug laws, such as violence and corruption, reaching unacceptable levels.

Through interviews in Brazil and abroad with physicians, researchers, leaders, policemen and representatives of civil movements, the filmmaker and journalist Rodrigo Mac Niven introduces a new vision of the early 21st century. It is a documentary that questions prohibition, and discusses the complexities of a taboo subject with honesty and transparency.

Here are some pics from around the ‘net collected together from the J Day Auckland 2011 event, which was fantastic. Please send yours in, I can blur any faces if required before upload.

This first one is arguably the best and captures the shot I was hoping to find from the day. Thanks to Gonzo. It was exciting to be part of such a large 4:20 smoking celebration, definitely I have not seen that much being smoked in one place, this even beats the Sly and Robbie concert.

J Day is an international celebration of the cannabis culture and protest against prohibition, now happening in over 200 cities around the world, on the first Saturday in May every year.

Most J Day events feature music from supportive bands and DJs, guest speakers, market stalls, cannabis information and activation. But entertainment is not really the point: come to J Day to show your support for sensible drug law reform.